Health Picks

Preventive roles and therapeutic uses of P-5-P

Vitamin B6 has been studied for an incredible amount of health applications. It has been used to treat nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy for decades. This vitamin may cut the risk of Parkinson’s disease in half, and may be useful in autism and ADHD/ADD. Because vitamin B6 is effective at reducing a substance in the body called homocysteine, it helps to prevent diseases associated with high homocysteine levels, like heart disease, osteoporosis and even Alzheimer’s dementia. If people are even marginally deficient in vitamin B6, they may be more susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome. Vitamin B6 has been shown in clinical studies to have a beneficial effect on carpal tunnel syndrome, particularly in cases where no trauma or overuse issues have played a role in development of the problem.

Vitamin B6 ameliorates premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Studies confirm that women who take B6 supplements have reductions in bloating, breast pain, and premenstrual acne flare, a condition in which pimples break out about a week before a woman's period begins. Because of pyridoxine's role in serotonin and other neurotransmitter production, supplementation often helps depressed people feel better, and their mood improves significantly. It may also help improve memory in older adults.

But there is a stumbling block with using Vitamin B6. It has to be converted in the body to pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P) before it can be used and up to 30% of the population doesn’t convert at optimal levels. That is why it is so important to use the premium form of this effective vitamin—P-5-P. This form does not have to be converted—it is already in the form your body can use.